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|fandom=[[Multifandom]]

|url=http://archiveofourown.org/, [http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=AO3_Status AO3_Status], [http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=ao3org ao3org]<br/>

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[[~~Image~~:AO3_Logo.png|thumb|left|Archive of Our Own Logo]]

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[[File:AO3_Logo.png|thumb|left|Archive of Our Own Logo]]

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The '''Archive of Our Own''', a.k.a. '''AO3''', is a [[Multifandom Archive|multi-fandom archive]] owned and operated by the [[Organization for Transformative Works]]. It is currently designed to host text-based fanfiction as well as [[fandom nonfiction]] and allows embedding (but not yet hosting) for [[vid]]s, [[fanart]] and [[podfic]]. It permits [[chan]], [[RPF]], and other controversial content. The archive's interface is planned to be translated into languages other than English in order to make it more accessible to an international userbase. <ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/295 2013 Roadmap] under Version 0.10 section</ref> It requires that [[DMCA]] takedown notices be signed in order to be acted upon<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/dmca DMCA Policy] accessed 9 June 2016</ref> and says that the OTW "will remove the content upon satisfactory review of the merits of the infringement claim."

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The '''Archive of Our Own''', a.k.a. '''AO3''', is a [[Multifandom Archive|multi-fandom archive]] owned and operated by the [[Organization for Transformative Works]]. It is currently designed to host text-based fanfiction as well as [[fandom nonfiction]] and allows embedding (but not yet hosting) for [[vid]]s, [[fanart]] and [[podfic]]. It permits [[chan]], [[RPF]], and other controversial content. The archive's interface is planned to be translated into languages other than English in order to make it more accessible to an international userbase.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/295 2013 Roadmap] under Version 0.10 section</ref> It requires that [[DMCA]] takedown notices be signed in order to be acted upon<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/dmca DMCA Policy] accessed 9 June 2016</ref> and says that the OTW "will remove the content upon satisfactory review of the merits of the infringement claim."

==Raison D'Etre==

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[[File:AO3 Home Page.png|thumb|upright=1.5|front page in September 2013]]

* First proposed by [[Astolat]] on 17 May 2007.<ref>[[An Archive Of One's Own (post by astolat)|An Archive Of One's Own]], livejournal post.</ref>

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* A Livejournal community [[OTW-News|fanarchive]] was created on 20 May 2007 to coordinate discussion and planning for the creation of the archive.<ref> [http://community.livejournal.com/otw_news/profile otw_news Community Profile] accessed 20 October 2008</ref><ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/otw_news/820.html First call for volunteers], Livejournal Post, accessed 20 October 2008</ref>

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* A Livejournal community [[OTW-News|fanarchive]] was created on 20 May 2007 to coordinate discussion and planning for the creation of the archive.<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/otw_news/profile otw_news Community Profile] accessed 20 October 2008</ref><ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/otw_news/820.html First call for volunteers], Livejournal Post, accessed 20 October 2008</ref>

* archiveofourown.org domain name registered 30 May 2007 by [[Rebecca Tushnet]].<ref>whois look up 20 October 2008</ref>

* Call for Ruby on Rails tutorial writers on 1 November 2007.<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/otw_news/12235.html Volunteer Search: Tutorial Makers ], accessed 20 October 2008</ref>

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* As of 31 December 2011, the archive had approximately 8100 fandoms, 275,000 works and 31,000 users.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/185 2011 Year in Review! (31 December 2011)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref>

* Database performance issues recurred in May 2012<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/218 AO3 performance issues (01 June 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref> when the site reached 1.4 million unique visitors a month,<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/233 My, how we've grown! A few AO3 stats (16 July 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref> coinciding with [[Fanfiction.net]]'s 2012 M-rated Purge.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/223 Update on AO3 performance issues (11 June 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref><ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/226 From FF.net to AO3 - some frequently asked questions (21 June 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref> The archive began to cache works and stats pages as an immediate measure to decrease server load,<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/222 Release Notes 0.8.17 (9 June 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref><ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/229 AO3 performance and growth: some details (15 July 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref> and then temporarily suspended tag filtering for the same reason,<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/224 Disabling filters: information and search tips (12 June 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref> reinstating them with improvements in November.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/260 Release 0.9.2: The Return of the Filters (8 November 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref>

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* As of 15 July 2012, the archive had 56,203 registered users.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/230 AO3 accounts and invitations (15 July 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref>. As of October 2012, there were 459,655 works and approximately 23,000 fandoms.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/255 Count ALL the tags! (17 October 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref>

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* As of 15 July 2012, the archive had 56,203 registered users.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/230 AO3 accounts and invitations (15 July 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref> As of October 2012, there were 459,655 works and approximately 23,000 fandoms.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/255 Count ALL the tags! (17 October 2012)] (accessed 28 November 2012)</ref>

* As of 16 July 2013, the Archive had 763,326 works in 12,448 "canonical" fandoms, and over 183,000 registered users.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/ taken from front page (accessed 16 July 2013)]</ref>

* The one millionth work was posted on 15 February 2014.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/366 AO3 Reaches 1 Million Fanworks (15 February 2014)]</ref>

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* The archive reached two million fanworks as of 20 December 2015.<ref>{{source| url = https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/4385 | title = Thanks a million...actually, make that two! | Archive of Our Own |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160505012157/https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/4385 |archivedate= 2016-05-05 }}, posted to AO3_News 20 December 2015.</ref>

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* The archive reached two million fanworks as of 20 December 2015.<ref>{{source| url = https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/4385 | title = Thanks a million...actually, make that two! | Archive of Our Own |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160505012157/https://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/4385 |archivedate= 2016-05-05 }}, posted to AO3_News 20 December 2015.</ref>

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*It was announced on 31 October 2016 that AO3 had 1 million registered users, 2,615,000 works spread across 22,970 fandoms.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/6037 Archive of Our Own] accessed 3 November 2016 </ref>

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* It was announced on 31 October 2016 that AO3 had 1 million registered users, 2,615,000 works spread across 22,970 fandoms.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/6037 Archive of Our Own] accessed 3 November 2016</ref>

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*The archive reached three million fanworks as of 28 April 2017.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/6984 Archive of Our Own] accessed 24th May 2017 </ref>

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* The archive reached three million fanworks as of 28 April 2017.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/6984 Archive of Our Own] accessed 24th May 2017</ref>

==Behind-the-Scenes Organization==

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AO3 is a project of the [[Organization for Transformative Works]]. Many OTW committees are responsible for aspects of the project:

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AO3 is a project of the [[Organization for Transformative Works]]. Many OTW committees are responsible for aspects of the project:

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Accessibility, Design & Technology|Accessibility, Design & Technology]] (AD&T) and their three subcommittees of Design, Coders, and Testers train AD&T volunteers, design and develop software features, and write and test the code for new features and bug fixes.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Accessibility, Design & Technology|Accessibility, Design & Technology]] (AD&T) and their three subcommittees of Design, Coders, and Testers train AD&T volunteers, design and develop software features, and write and test the code for new features and bug fixes.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Systems|Systems]] maintains the servers and infrastructure AO3 runs on.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Systems|Systems]] maintains the servers and infrastructure AO3 runs on.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Support|Support]] answers user help requests, bug reports and feedback submitted via the form on AO3 and forwards abuse reports to the [[Organization for Transformative Works/Abuse|Abuse]] Committee.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Support|Support]] answers user help requests, bug reports and feedback submitted via the form on AO3 and forwards abuse reports to the [[Organization for Transformative Works/Abuse|Abuse]] Committee.

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*[[Tag Wrangling]] organises and maintains the AO3 user-created tags for Fandoms, Characters, Relationships and Additional (freeform) categories.

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* [[Tag Wrangling]] organises and maintains the AO3 user-created tags for Fandoms, Characters, Relationships and Additional (freeform) categories.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Content_Policy|Content Policy]] is responsible for site content policy and [[TOS]] updates in conjunction with [[Organization for Transformative Works/Legal|Legal]].

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Content_Policy|Content Policy]] is responsible for site content policy and [[TOS]] updates in conjunction with [[Organization for Transformative Works/Legal|Legal]].

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Translation|Translation]] works to translate news posts and work on the new site translations feature in conjunction with ADT.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Translation|Translation]] works to translate news posts and work on the new site translations feature in conjunction with ADT.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Internationalization and Outreach|Internationalization and Outreach]] works to improve support and visibility for international and underrepresented fandoms on the archive.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Internationalization and Outreach|Internationalization and Outreach]] works to improve support and visibility for international and underrepresented fandoms on the archive.

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*[[Open Doors]] helps maintainers of other archives to import their content to AO3.

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* [[Open Doors]] helps maintainers of other archives to import their content to AO3.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Vidding|Vidding]] works on integrating vids into AO3.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Vidding|Vidding]] works on integrating vids into AO3.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Communications|Communications]] coordinates newsletters and blog posts on the OTW site and mirrors.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Communications|Communications]] coordinates newsletters and blog posts on the OTW site and mirrors.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Volunteers & Recruiting|Volunteers & Recruiting]] (VolCom) recruits and looks after volunteers and manages the internal wiki and access to various tools.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Volunteers & Recruiting|Volunteers & Recruiting]] (VolCom) recruits and looks after volunteers and manages the internal wiki and access to various tools.

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*[[Organization for Transformative Works/Development and Membership|Development and Membership]] and [[Organization for Transformative Works/Finance|Finance]] fundraise and pay for AO3 hosting and servers.

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* [[Organization for Transformative Works/Development and Membership|Development and Membership]] and [[Organization for Transformative Works/Finance|Finance]] fundraise and pay for AO3 hosting and servers.

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*The [[Organization for Transformative Works/Board| Board of Directors]] oversees the Committees. <ref name=committees>[http://transformativeworks.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer OTW list of Committees]</ref>

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* The [[Organization for Transformative Works/Board|Board of Directors]] oversees the Committees.<ref name=committees>[http://transformativeworks.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer OTW list of Committees]</ref>

==Notable Features==

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==Tags==

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The Archive has an innovative system for managing fandoms and other tags that allows uploaders to enter all manner of freeform tags while [[AO3 Tag Wrangling|"tag wranglers"]] organize and link them so that readers can browse or search. [[zvi]] wrote a noteworthy post explaining it. <ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/11 Tags (Wuzzles) explained], AO3 news post, accessed 24 December 2009</ref>

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The Archive has an innovative system for managing fandoms and other tags that allows uploaders to enter all manner of freeform tags while [[AO3 Tag Wrangling|"tag wranglers"]] organize and link them so that readers can browse or search. [[zvi]] wrote a noteworthy post explaining it.<ref>[http://archiveofourown.org/admin_posts/11 Tags (Wuzzles) explained], AO3 news post, accessed 24 December 2009</ref>

The AO3 tagging system (and the related search and filtering problems) have not been all joy for all users. See [[AO3 Tagging Policy Debate]] for more information on criticism and discussion of AO3's tagging system.

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==No Direct Advertising==

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Advertising on "Archive of Our Own" is not allowed. This includes mentions by fans of [[writing commissions]] and [[Patreon]] work.

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Advertising on "Archive of Our Own" is not allowed. This includes mentions by fans of [[writing commissions]] and [[Patreon]] work.

From a 2016 discussion:

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As I said, someone did actually report my fic for this - so there are people out there who are noticing/reporting these situations. Please be aware of this if you take fic commissions, or use patreon or ko-fi, because your account could end up suspended, which of course no one wants!

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<3 <3 <ref> {{source| url = http://whalehuntingboyfriends.tumblr.com/post/150907363379/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 | title = PSA: DON’T MENTION COMMISSIONS/PATREON ON AO3 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170626224615/http://whalehuntingboyfriends.tumblr.com/post/150907363379/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 | archivedate = 2017-06-26 }}, tumblr post by whalehuntingboyfriends, 25 September 2016. (Accessed 26 June 2017.)</ref>}}

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<3 <3 <ref>{{source| url = http://whalehuntingboyfriends.tumblr.com/post/150907363379/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 | title = PSA: DON’T MENTION COMMISSIONS/PATREON ON AO3 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20170626224615/http://whalehuntingboyfriends.tumblr.com/post/150907363379/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 | archivedate = 2017-06-26 }}, tumblr post by whalehuntingboyfriends, 25 September 2016. (Accessed 26 June 2017.)</ref>}}

{{Quotation2|

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That’s a fucking bullshit rule, I’m sorry. They shouldn’t deny you the opportunity to advertise your own work. <ref> comment by sinningsleepingandshitposting at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016) </ref>}}

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That’s a fucking bullshit rule, I’m sorry. They shouldn’t deny you the opportunity to advertise your own work.<ref>comment by sinningsleepingandshitposting at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016)</ref>}}

{{Quotation|

archive of our own is run by the organization for transformative works. ao3 and the other services that otw offers - including legal services for fan creators who get in legal trouble - are nonprofit organizations.

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this isn’t just a self-determined descriptor; that’s a legal definition that requires adherence to specific rules and laws regarding income, profit, and donations.

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this isn’t just a self-determined descriptor; that’s a legal definition that requires adherence to specific rules and laws regarding income, profit, and donations.

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this isn’t a “bullshit rule” just meant to prevent creators from advertising. in op’s post, the contact from [[ao3]] offers a roundabout way to advertise. this rule ensures that ao3 and the organization for transformative works to stay a non-profit organization - this “bullshit rule” is essentially a way so that ao3 and the other services that the organization for transformative works can stay online. <ref> comment by softpunkbucky at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016) </ref>}}

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this isn’t a “bullshit rule” just meant to prevent creators from advertising. in op’s post, the contact from [[ao3]] offers a roundabout way to advertise. this rule ensures that ao3 and the organization for transformative works to stay a non-profit organization - this “bullshit rule” is essentially a way so that ao3 and the other services that the organization for transformative works can stay online.<ref>comment by softpunkbucky at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016)</ref>}}

{{Quotation2|it’s not ''just'' about maintaining nonprofit status. (i question if that’s even applicable here, since the profits in question don’t go to the organisation, but i know very little about nonprofit law. just a gut feeling.)

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here’s why.

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[snipped] <ref> comment by ratherembarrassing at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016) </ref>}}

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[snipped] <ref>comment by ratherembarrassing at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016)</ref>}}

{{Quotation|

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People also forget the reason why [[Disclaimer|disclamers]] on fics became so prevalent.

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People also forget the reason why [[Disclaimer|disclamers]] on fics became so prevalent.

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Please understand that profiting off [[fanfiction]], [[fanart]] and all forms of fan-content is direct violation of copyrighted material.

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Please understand that profiting off [[fanfiction]], [[fanart]] and all forms of fan-content is direct violation of copyrighted material.

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Your commissions to draw popular characters? Direct violation of Copyright. AO3 works hard to maintain fandom expression protected. You hurt their cause by not adhering to their term of use.

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Your commissions to draw popular characters? Direct violation of Copyright. AO3 works hard to maintain fandom expression protected. You hurt their cause by not adhering to their term of use.

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They’re there so you won’t get sued. <ref> comment by jeremy rennerd at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016) </ref>}}

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They’re there so you won’t get sued.<ref>comment by jeremy rennerd at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016)</ref>}}

{{Quotation2|

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The [[OTW]] has done so much in getting non-profit [[transformative works]] to be legalized, especially getting copyright exceptions for [[vidding]]. Let’s not screw this up now, guys. <ref> comment by sophia helix at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016) </ref>}}

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The [[OTW]] has done so much in getting non-profit [[transformative works]] to be legalized, especially getting copyright exceptions for [[vidding]]. Let’s not screw this up now, guys.<ref>comment by sophia helix at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016)</ref>}}

{{Quotation|

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The discussion of copyright could be refined a little here…but let’s be blunt, to some extent, it doesn’t matter. Regardless of the law, [[AO3]] was established with a deliberately noncommercial ethos–in fact, in ''specific response'' to contemporary attempts to commercialize fandom. The rule exists in service of that ethos. Don’t like that “bullshit?” Well, then, I guess you should just go read and publish fic on that other free platform that doesn’t exist to turn you and your personal data into a product to sell off to capitalism’s highest bidders. What’s that? You say that doesn’t exist? ''Hmmmm, I wonder if that’s a coincidence.'' <ref> comment by harriet spy at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016) </ref>}}

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The discussion of copyright could be refined a little here…but let’s be blunt, to some extent, it doesn’t matter. Regardless of the law, [[AO3]] was established with a deliberately noncommercial ethos–in fact, in ''specific response'' to contemporary attempts to commercialize fandom. The rule exists in service of that ethos. Don’t like that “bullshit?” Well, then, I guess you should just go read and publish fic on that other free platform that doesn’t exist to turn you and your personal data into a product to sell off to capitalism’s highest bidders. What’s that? You say that doesn’t exist? ''Hmmmm, I wonder if that’s a coincidence.'' <ref>comment by harriet spy at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016)</ref>}}

{{Quotation2|

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I am old and have an instant [[squick]] reaction to the current trend for profiting off of fan fiction because I saw how many sites came down and how many [[C&Ds]] I saw happen to friends. Not only that… I can just imagine some politician noticing people soliciting $$ for art or fanfic and going, how can I tax that and how can I get back taxes for all the previous? <ref> comment by leafquake23 at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016) </ref>}}

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I am old and have an instant [[squick]] reaction to the current trend for profiting off of fan fiction because I saw how many sites came down and how many [[C&Ds]] I saw happen to friends. Not only that… I can just imagine some politician noticing people soliciting $$ for art or fanfic and going, how can I tax that and how can I get back taxes for all the previous? <ref>comment by leafquake23 at [https://leafquake23.tumblr.com/post/162352836906/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 psa: don’t mention commissions/patreon on AO3]; [http://archive.is/SE3BJ archive link] (2016)</ref>}}

{{Quotation|

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I donate to avoid ads. The whole point is to have somewhere with no ads. Why would I want some rando to use my nice ad-free space I have paid for as their personal marketing platform? <ref> [http://olderthannetfic.tumblr.com/post/162353798794/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 olderthannetfic.tumblr] </ref>}}

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I donate to avoid ads. The whole point is to have somewhere with no ads. Why would I want some rando to use my nice ad-free space I have paid for as their personal marketing platform? <ref>[http://olderthannetfic.tumblr.com/post/162353798794/psa-dont-mention-commissionspatreon-on-ao3 olderthannetfic.tumblr]</ref>}}

==Initial Criticisms Of==

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Initial complaints by some fans:

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Initial complaints by some fans:

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* it was too powerful

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* fans disliked the tagging system: see [[AO3 Tagging Policy Debate]] and [[AO3 Tag Wrangling]]

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* fans disliked the tagging system: see [[AO3 Tagging Policy Debate]] and [[AO3 Tag Wrangling]]

* the archive put too many eggs in one basket

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* it allowed "problematic content"

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* it allowed "problematic content"

* fans didn't like various features

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* fans didn't like archives <ref> "... trolling [[archives]] for fic is about the last way I want to find reading material. I'd much rather read from recs or [[delicious]] or my [[flist]]. -- comment by [[kyuuketsukirui]] at [http://midnightbex.dreamwidth.org/626140.html My two cents on Fanlib as a fanfic reader]; [http://www.webcitation.org/6VYo68Rn7 Archive] in response to the [[FanLib]] proposal, May 21, 2007 </ref>

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* fans didn't like archives <ref>"... trolling [[archives]] for fic is about the last way I want to find reading material. I'd much rather read from recs or [[delicious]] or my [[flist]]. -- comment by [[kyuuketsukirui]] at [http://midnightbex.dreamwidth.org/626140.html My two cents on Fanlib as a fanfic reader]; [http://www.webcitation.org/6VYo68Rn7 Archive] in response to the [[FanLib]] proposal, May 21, 2007</ref>

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* it lacked a way to rate fanworks <ref> "The main problem with such mass run sites is that there is no way to determine what is good writing and what isn't. A search on the site isn't going to help me figure that out and their rating system isn't either. Rating systems have been around nearly as long as their have been archives." -- [http://midnightbex.dreamwidth.org/626140.html My two cents on Fanlib as a fanfic reader]; [http://www.webcitation.org/6VYo68Rn7 Archive], post by midnightbex, May 21, 2007 </ref>

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* it lacked a way to rate fanworks <ref>"The main problem with such mass run sites is that there is no way to determine what is good writing and what isn't. A search on the site isn't going to help me figure that out and their rating system isn't either. Rating systems have been around nearly as long as their have been archives." -- [http://midnightbex.dreamwidth.org/626140.html My two cents on Fanlib as a fanfic reader]; [http://www.webcitation.org/6VYo68Rn7 Archive], post by midnightbex, May 21, 2007</ref>

* it was too Western-media centric

* fans didn't like the people who created it, nor the way it was created

==Initial Praise Of==

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Initial praise by some fans:

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Initial praise by some fans:

* it was owned by fans

* it had a tagging system

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Below are some anecdotal comments from [[An Archive Of One's Own (post by astolat)]] which show challenges, enthusiasm, and eventual growing pains of getting this project off the ground. See [[An Archive Of One's Own (post by astolat)/Comments]] for many, many more.

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* "... I would say that much of the reason that fanfic.net is a badfic haven is because the interfaces and design are bad and not satisfying for the picky readers that most of us are, once we get through the first rush of "omg my fandom!" I know that when ff.net was first launched, I wasn't inherently avoiding it; I avoided it because it was just terrible to use. I *do* think that in order to be successful, an archive has to be someplace where you yourself want to ~~live -- it~~ has to be a place where you want to read, or else you are not going to bother posting there, and that if you make a site that the most demanding readers are satisfied with, that is kind of the key. For instance, I feel that LJ has beaten out the fandom-specific central archives because it has MAJOR advantages for anyone who is multifannish or social, despite the lack of searching capabilities. I don't want to try and duplicate the effort of LJ, but I think something like the "post here AND to LJ at once" tool would be a great way to keep people posting to the archive because it would have zero cost (possibly negative cost if you also add in automatic lj community posting) for someone posting a story to LJ." from [[astolat]], May 17, 2007

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* "... I would say that much of the reason that fanfic.net is a badfic haven is because the interfaces and design are bad and not satisfying for the picky readers that most of us are, once we get through the first rush of "omg my fandom!" I know that when ff.net was first launched, I wasn't inherently avoiding it; I avoided it because it was just terrible to use. I *do* think that in order to be successful, an archive has to be someplace where you yourself want to live—it has to be a place where you want to read, or else you are not going to bother posting there, and that if you make a site that the most demanding readers are satisfied with, that is kind of the key. For instance, I feel that LJ has beaten out the fandom-specific central archives because it has MAJOR advantages for anyone who is multifannish or social, despite the lack of searching capabilities. I don't want to try and duplicate the effort of LJ, but I think something like the "post here AND to LJ at once" tool would be a great way to keep people posting to the archive because it would have zero cost (possibly negative cost if you also add in automatic lj community posting) for someone posting a story to LJ." from [[astolat]], May 17, 2007

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* "[Live Journal] is also lousy for finding fics and authors in a new fandom. Yes, there are communities, but they don't always have names that would enable someone to find them on their own, and I for one have never managed to get into a new fandom that included authors I already knew from a previous one, which means having no one to point those communities out. In general, the loss of archives (and mailing lists, for that matter) in favor of LJ has made my fannish life more difficult. A quality panfandom archive would be a big help." from few, May 17, 2007

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* "[Live Journal] is also lousy for finding fics and authors in a new fandom. Yes, there are communities, but they don't always have names that would enable someone to find them on their own, and I for one have never managed to get into a new fandom that included authors I already knew from a previous one, which means having no one to point those communities out. In general, the loss of archives (and mailing lists, for that matter) in favor of LJ has made my fannish life more difficult. A quality panfandom archive would be a big help." from few, May 17, 2007

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* "Yes, I think locking is a very good option to allow (and also google-blocking) on an individual user basis, so the archive lets different people manage their own comfort level. The problem with adding vids (other than vids as links -- which I think would be brilliant) -- is the massive bandwidth cost, and the bigger questions of legality. from [[astolat]], May 17, 2007

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* "Yes, I think locking is a very good option to allow (and also google-blocking) on an individual user basis, so the archive lets different people manage their own comfort level. The problem with adding vids (other than vids as links -- which I think would be brilliant) -- is the massive bandwidth cost, and the bigger questions of legality. from [[astolat]], May 17, 2007

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* "In my mind, this doesn't sound like reiterating LiveJournal. I'm one of the folks who almost never posts outside of LiveJournal anymore but could definitely go for something like this--it's combining all the best features of archiving and LJ at once. It wouldn't just be the search feature that would make things more user-friendly; it would be the tiers of organization that would appeal to me. As a panfandom reader using LiveJournal is just a pain in my ass, but I do it because there isn't really another option. More than that, if there was an option for site-wide tag searches, that would integrate a lot of the best features of del.icio.us. I'm having a hard time seeing any downsides to it other than the 'getting off the ground' phase where people ask themselves 'Ugh, do I really want to go back and re-post all my fanfiction here?' Because that would the major hump to get over, I think, in regards to converting some folks to this new system. Or maybe I should say to converting me. *g*" ~~-- tracendenza~~, May 18, 2007

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* "In my mind, this doesn't sound like reiterating LiveJournal. I'm one of the folks who almost never posts outside of LiveJournal anymore but could definitely go for something like this--it's combining all the best features of archiving and LJ at once. It wouldn't just be the search feature that would make things more user-friendly; it would be the tiers of organization that would appeal to me. As a panfandom reader using LiveJournal is just a pain in my ass, but I do it because there isn't really another option. More than that, if there was an option for site-wide tag searches, that would integrate a lot of the best features of del.icio.us. I'm having a hard time seeing any downsides to it other than the 'getting off the ground' phase where people ask themselves 'Ugh, do I really want to go back and re-post all my fanfiction here?' Because that would the major hump to get over, I think, in regards to converting some folks to this new system. Or maybe I should say to converting me. *g*"—tracendenza, May 18, 2007

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* "My feeling is the gatekeeping needed to keep out badfic costs more than it is worth. I think if you provide filtering mechanisms that let people find manageable lists of stories they are really interested in (narrowing down by fandom, pairing, category, particular features), and sort them by (admittedly imperfect) criteria like #comments/recs/hits, while ALSO providing mechanisms to give exposure and encouragement to new writers so those imperfect measures don't bury new people, that really, any quantity of badfic can be managed. Also, frankly, I suspect that the presence of higher quality fanfic as examples within the archive would all on its own help badfic/newbie writers improve rapidly. The problem with ff.net is there are no real mechanisms for winnowing out badfic." ~~-- astolat~~, May 17, 2007

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* "My feeling is the gatekeeping needed to keep out badfic costs more than it is worth. I think if you provide filtering mechanisms that let people find manageable lists of stories they are really interested in (narrowing down by fandom, pairing, category, particular features), and sort them by (admittedly imperfect) criteria like #comments/recs/hits, while ALSO providing mechanisms to give exposure and encouragement to new writers so those imperfect measures don't bury new people, that really, any quantity of badfic can be managed. Also, frankly, I suspect that the presence of higher quality fanfic as examples within the archive would all on its own help badfic/newbie writers improve rapidly. The problem with ff.net is there are no real mechanisms for winnowing out badfic."—astolat, May 17, 2007

==History: Some 2016 Fan Comments==

A conversation about content, policies, and history:

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In 2016, a fan commented:

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In 2016, a fan commented:

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See [[i didn't realise ao3 was started in response to lj deleting account relating to pedophilia and they explicitly support the posting of such works yikes]] for this discussion.

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See [[i didn't realise ao3 was started in response to lj deleting account relating to pedophilia and they explicitly support the posting of such works yikes]] for this discussion.

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This post was deleted, and then reposted after it had gotten a long response. The original poster then wrote a much longer post with this excerpt: "The post was me starting to think about whether I want to post my own work on a website which also allows pedophiles to be present on it. That could lead to me being associated with them, or some way indirectly supporting such a community (by supporting the archive). Some moderator said, ‘If you want to kick certain kinds of content off of AO3, you do not belong on AO3 in the first place,’ so this was me thinking ''maybe I do not belong on AO3''. And maybe I think other people should consider this also. But really I lack the personal investment or moral integrity to stop posting there, because I like getting weekly [[kudos]] emails." <ref> see the full exchange here: [http://joestrummin.tumblr.com/post/148894949419 joestrummin.tumblr]; [https://web.archive.org/web/20161110053738/https://joestrummin.tumblr.com/post/148894949419 archive link]. </ref>

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This post was deleted, and then reposted after it had gotten a long response. The original poster then wrote a much longer post with this excerpt: "The post was me starting to think about whether I want to post my own work on a website which also allows pedophiles to be present on it. That could lead to me being associated with them, or some way indirectly supporting such a community (by supporting the archive). Some moderator said, ‘If you want to kick certain kinds of content off of AO3, you do not belong on AO3 in the first place,’ so this was me thinking ''maybe I do not belong on AO3''. And maybe I think other people should consider this also. But really I lack the personal investment or moral integrity to stop posting there, because I like getting weekly [[kudos]] emails." <ref>see the full exchange here: [http://joestrummin.tumblr.com/post/148894949419 joestrummin.tumblr]; [https://web.archive.org/web/20161110053738/https://joestrummin.tumblr.com/post/148894949419 archive link].</ref>

{{Quotation|

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it wasn’t, like, we luv pedophilia, it was way more complicated than that!

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it wasn’t, like, we luv pedophilia, it was way more complicated than that!

although it’s true AO3 does allow all fannish content provided it’s properly [[warned]] for, there’s a long history there - of spaces being used by fans until the host decided whatever we were doing was too weird and distasteful and either kicking us off, banning certain content, or changing the nature of the site until it was no longer viable as a host.

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LONG STORY SHORT, even though pedophilia is reprehensible and I personally cannot stomach fanfic that involves that kind of content, AO3 was founded specially as a [[Fandom as a Safe Space|safe space for fandom communities]] that could not find homes elsewhere. it requires [[warnings]] precisely for that reason, and if you find a story that is not properly warned, you can alert the admins and get the story labeled appropriately.

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IDK, maybe it’s just because I am, again, ancient, but I was in and around fandom before homosexuality was legal in all 50 states. so were most of the people who started AO3. for most of my formative life, being gay was associated with pedophilia, and so was writing about gay characters. just - it’s a lot more complicated than you might expect, and there’s a reason many older fans who have been involved in several generations of fandom were so grateful to have AO3 as an option. <~~Ref~~> {{source| url = http://tomato-greens.tumblr.com/post/148787203881/joestrummin-i-didnt-realise-ao3-was-started-in | title = high concept / low skill | joestrummin: i didnt realise ao3 was started in... |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161117073742/http://tomato-greens.tumblr.com:80/post/148787203881/joestrummin-i-didnt-realise-ao3-was-started-in |archivedate= 2016-11-17 }}, August 11, 2016 </ref>}}

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IDK, maybe it’s just because I am, again, ancient, but I was in and around fandom before homosexuality was legal in all 50 states. so were most of the people who started AO3. for most of my formative life, being gay was associated with pedophilia, and so was writing about gay characters. just - it’s a lot more complicated than you might expect, and there’s a reason many older fans who have been involved in several generations of fandom were so grateful to have AO3 as an option.<ref>{{source| url = http://tomato-greens.tumblr.com/post/148787203881/joestrummin-i-didnt-realise-ao3-was-started-in | title = high concept / low skill | joestrummin: i didnt realise ao3 was started in... |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161117073742/http://tomato-greens.tumblr.com:80/post/148787203881/joestrummin-i-didnt-realise-ao3-was-started-in |archivedate= 2016-11-17 }}, August 11, 2016</ref>}}

Also see [[AO3 Content Discussion (2016)]].

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* [[List of Content Banned by Archives]]

* [http://fanthropology.livejournal.com/344713.html Archives and not wanting to say "but"]; [http://www.webcitation.org/6VPLFuV6v Archive] (May 23, 2007)

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*[http://elz.dreamwidth.org/51557.html AO3 Fun Facts] by elz

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* [http://elz.dreamwidth.org/51557.html AO3 Fun Facts] by elz

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*[http://xparrot.livejournal.com/149508.html on browsing & reading on AO3] by xparrot

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* [http://xparrot.livejournal.com/149508.html on browsing & reading on AO3] by xparrot

* {{source| url = http://cyborganize.livejournal.com/32069.html?format=light | title = cyborganize: IV/3/. Archive Wars: FanLib vs. OTW | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6VL44kOfX | archivedate = 2015-01-04 }}, November 27, 2009

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* [[Beginnings of OTW: 2007-08 Comments]]

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* [[Beginnings of OTW: 2007-08 Comments]]

* [[Timeline of Organization for Transformative Works]]

* {{source| url = https://fanslashfic.com/2015/11/01/how-archive-of-our-own-revolutionized-fandom/ | title = How Archive of Our Own Revolutionized Fandom – FAN/FIC Magazine | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6ks6VYRa2 | archivedate = 2016-09-29 }}, Farasha Silver (November 2015)

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* [[I didn't realise ao3 was started in response to lj deleting account relating to pedophilia and they explicitly support the posting of such works yikes]] (2016)

* [[Concerning Archive of Our Own]] (2017)

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* [[Feedback culture is dead, long live feedback culture!]] (A meta post and project about [[feedback]] on [[fanfiction]], primarily focused on AO3 and suggesting improvements for the site) (~~2017-present~~)

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* [[Feedback culture is dead, long live feedback culture!]] (A meta post and project about [[feedback]] on [[fanfiction]], primarily focused on AO3 and suggesting improvements for the site) (2017–present)

==References==

Phoenix

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